JORDANIAN KING DUMPS GOVERNMENT – AT 8:11 A.M. E:  It what is clearly a preemptive strike, King Abdullah of Jordan has dismissed his government and named a new prime minister, apparently in response to demonstrations.  The king reportedly has a TV and sees what's happening in Cairo:

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's Royal Palace says the king has sacked his government in the wake of street protests and has asked an ex-army general to form a new Cabinet.

King Abdullah's move comes after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets — inspired by the regime ouster in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt — and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai who is blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms.

The Royal Palace says Rifai's Cabinet resigned on Tuesday.

Abdullah also nominated Marouf al-Bakhit as his prime minister-designate. No other details were immediately available.

COMMENT:  Question:  Will this be seen by discontented citizens as progress, or a sign of weakness?  Remember that most Jordanian citizens are Palestinians.   They may have other agendas besides the normal gripes of people living in an authoritarian state. 

This story is just developing.

February 1, 2011